Hanks to Return to Broadway in 2027 After 14-Year Absence

A fourteen-year hiatus from the New York stage ends for Tom Hanks, who is set to headline a Broadway production of This World of Tomorrow. The Oscar-winning actor, aged 70, will perform alongside Tony Award recipient Kelli O’Hara beginning in the fall of 2027.

The news broke on Thursday, October 22, confirming that the play will move to Broadway after completing a sold-out Off-Broadway engagement at The Shed in New York City during 2025. Hanks co-authored the script with James Glossman, adapting material from his own short stories. Kenny Leon, a Tony Award-winning director, returns to helm the production.

Broadway Transfer Details

Performances will occur at a Shubert theater, though the specific venue name and exact dates remain unannounced. This limited engagement marks Hanks’ first appearance on Broadway since his debut in Lucky Guy, the Nora Ephron play that opened in 2013. His role in that earlier production resulted in a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play.

O’Hara brings extensive Broadway credentials to the project, having accumulated nine Tony Award nominations over her career. She secured the Best Actress in a Musical award for The King and I in 2015. Television viewers may also recognize her portrayal of Aurora Fane in HBO’s The Gilded Age.

Plot and Character Dynamics

This World of Tomorrow operates as a time-travel romance situated at the close of the twenty-first century. Hanks portrays Bert Allenberry, a character intent on altering his future by revisiting past events. The narrative follows Allenberry as he repeatedly travels back to a specific day at the 1939 New York World’s Fair in Queens, exploring how romantic choices influence subsequent timelines.

O’Hara reprises her role as Carmen, continuing the dynamic established between the two actors during their previous performances at The Shed. Director Kenny Leon expressed enthusiasm about expanding the reach of what he described as an "amazing new American play." In a statement regarding the transfer, Leon highlighted the chemistry between the leads and his excitement about presenting their work to a broader audience.

Production Team and Updates

Brian Anthony Moreland serves as the producer for the upcoming Broadway run. Additional cast members and creative team personnel are scheduled for future announcement. Information regarding ticket prices, sale dates, and specific performance schedules has not yet been released. Interested fans can register for updates via the official This World of Tomorrow Broadway website.

Hanks initially revealed the Off-Broadway plans in May 2025, disclosing his involvement in writing the time-travel romance. The current announcement solidifies the transition from the successful 2025 run to the 2027 Broadway engagement.